Macular Hole

What is a macular hole?

The macula is the small area in the center of the retina responsible for your central vision which helps you to perform tasks such as reading, driving and close-up work. A macular hole is a small break in the macula.

There are three stages of a macular hole:

Foveal detachment (Stage I)

Partial-thickness hole (Stage II)

Full-thickness hole

At Retina Consultants of Houston, our board-certified ophthalmologist are specially trained and experienced in diagnosing, staging and treating macular holes. If left untreated, a macular hole can lead to a retinal detachment.

Macular Holes

Causes and Symptoms of Macular Hole

Macular holes typically affect people over age 55 and occur more often in women. Several conditions increase the risk of developing a macular hole:

Vitreous traction: The vitreous is the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye between the lens and the retina. As you age, the vitreous can begin to pull away from the retina, sometimes causing a macular hole.

Diagnosis

Treatment and Prognosis

The standard treatment for macular holes is vitrectomy surgery, an outpatient procedure that involves removing the vitreous gel to stop it from pulling on the retina. A gas bubble is then placed in the eye to push against the macular hole, helping it to close and heal. Over a period of several weeks, the gas bubble slowly dissolves and is replaced with natural eye fluids.

If a macular hole is very small and is not significantly impacting vision, your retina doctor may simply observe and track its progression or natural healing.

Retina Consultants of Houston is the largest retina-only ophthalmology practice in Texas with 2 certified research centers and is one of the most respected in the United States. Our practice is also home to the Greater Houston Retina Research Center, one of the country’s leading sites for retinal research. All Retina Consultants of Houston physicians are board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and specialize exclusively in diseases and surgery of the retina, vitreous, and macula. In addition, we have an ocular oncology division, which focuses on cancer treatments for the eye. Our surgeons have studied at some of the most notorious institutions in the nation and all have graduated at the very top of their classes.